“You’re crazy if you think I’m letting you inside of me ever again.”
“Fine.” He made it seem like that didn’t bother him, even though it was tempting to pout.
Aneski frowned. “That’s it?”
“I don’t have to chase after anyone or anything.”
“That’s literally in your job description,” he disagreed. “You’re the Runner of the Brumal mafia.”
“Oh. Right.” He grinned. “Touché.”
“You missed one.”
“One what?”
“Camera.”
Flix tensed, the mocking smile bleeding away. If this were just about the sex, he wouldn’t care, but… “You mean the footage you filmed in that room of me writhing for you? That doesn’t matter. Do whatever you want with it.”
“No,” he corrected. “I mean in the living room. You,” he leaned in closer, “missed one.”
Flix reacted without thought, on Aneski again in less than a blink. He had him turned and shoved up against the side ofthe building, his face pressed uncomfortably against the brick. But he didn’t raise the knife again, dropping it to the dirt so he could secure Ani more firmly between himself and the wall. His heart kicked wildly in his chest, but he was able to contain the ingrained fear enough to stop himself from making an irreversible mistake.
“What?” Aneski, who clearly had a death wish, quirked a brow over his shoulder at him. “Going to fry me like you did the cameras?”
Flix swore.
This wasn’t happening. He should have burned the place to the ground as initially planned. Only his damn soft spot for Ani had stopped him, and now…Now they were here and…Shit.
“When did you find out?” he asked darkly.
“An hour ago,” Ani admitted. “It was by chance I thought to check the footage. To be honest, I was actually just trying to get that photo to show Baikal. I was initially coming here to talk to you about something else. I had no idea I’d make a discovery like this.”
“You know whatthismeans, Tiny Terror, don’t you?” he didn’t bother trying to keep the note of sadness from his tone when he spoke.
“Yeah,” he nodded his head as best he could still in Flix’s tight grip, “that thing you said about not wanting to kill me was bullshit. Just like everything else you’ve ever told me. You’re a liar, Flix.” He searched his gaze. “And a monster.”
“I’m a Shout,” he growled.
“Sure,” he said. “But everyone knows you’re a dormant one. Or, at least, everyone thought they knew. Wonder what your friends will say when they find out you’ve been lying to them, too?” He snorted. “It’s a fun threat. I see why you like using it so much. Maybe you’re the one who has to worry about the Butcher climbing through his window at night.”
“Berga would never hurt me.” He frowned. “And what? Why the window? He has a key.”
Aneski’s eyes narrowed. “Seriously?”
“Your threatening skills are at the same standard as your interrogation ones,” Flix stated. “Subpar.”
“You’re scared it’ll get out, I know you are.”
“Do I look afraid, Tiny Terror?”
“Yes.”
That wasn’t true. Flix had a hold on his features, and there was no way Aneski could see through him. Still…Hewasafraid. Afraid that word would make its way to Baikal or Kazimir. Either of them would feel threatened by this news, even more so once they realized he’d been keeping it from them for so long.
If Baikal heard that Flix had Shout powers same as him…Things could get messy, and not in the fun way either of them liked.
Flix didn’t want to fight with his friend. He never had.
